Ascend Performance Materials has successfully reached a significant milestone by achieving full chemical recycling of nylon 6/6 materials. This breakthrough was accomplished in mid-2024 at its production facility in Pensacola, Florida. The announcement was made by Ascend’s Chief Technology Officer, Vikram Gopal, on March 4, 2025, during the Antec 2025 conference in Philadelphia. Gopal referred to the achievement as "the first world-scale fiber-to-fiber recycling option with nylon 6/6 and nylon 6/6 fiber blends."

The newly developed process converts used nylon fiber into recycled-content resins that match the performance of virgin materials. According to Gopal, this innovation makes it possible to integrate recycling, sustainability, and high performance, offering a viable solution for industries dependent on nylon materials. He emphasized that this new system is a major step forward in overcoming challenges the industry has faced for the past 20 to 30 years regarding full nylon 6/6 recycling. "We're very excited to reach this breakthrough," Gopal stated.

The process, which was developed by Ascend in Houston, has now been scaled to a commercial level, producing materials that can serve as direct replacements for virgin nylon. The recycled nylon 6/6 produced through this process is versatile, with customization options available to meet specific needs, further expanding its potential applications. This method also significantly reduces the need for fresh feedstock supplies, such as adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine (HMD), thus minimizing the environmental impact of the nylon production process.

In terms of sustainability, Gopal stressed that achieving meaningful progress requires collective action across the entire value chain. "It’s not something sold by one company or one player — it has to be used across the entire value chain," he said. Ascend’s commitment to sustainability extends to its ambitious goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 90% compared to 2018 levels by 2030. To support these efforts, Ascend has already invested over $200 million in sustainability initiatives over recent years.

As the world’s largest fully integrated nylon 6/6 manufacturer, Ascend Performance Materials is a major player in the global nylon market. The company has annual sales exceeding $3 billion and operates as part of SK Capital Partners, a New York-based investment firm. With this achievement in chemical recycling, Ascend has positioned itself as a leader in both sustainable materials and cutting-edge recycling technologies, contributing to the global drive for circularity and reduced environmental impact in the manufacturing sector.